Variable-length needle covering device of an injection device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a needle covering device of an injection device, the injection device including a casing comprising a reservoir, in particular an ampoule, for a product fluid to be administered, and an injection needle for injecting the product fluid from the reservoir, wherein the device surrounds the injection needle in an extended position and exposes the injection needle in a retracted position. The device comprises a passage for the injection needle, a front section via which the device is placed on an injection point, and another section which is nearer to the casing than the front section is, at least in the extended position. The sections can be moved axially relative to the casing and relative to each other, such that the device is variable in its length, the front section being guided in a straight line on the casing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of and claims priority toU.S. application Ser. No. 10/233,281, filed Aug. 30, 2002 which claimspriority to PCT Application No. PCT/CH01/00112, filed on Feb. 22, 2001,which claims priority to German Application No. DE 100 09 815.0, filedon Mar. 1, 2000, all of which are herein incorporated by reference intheir entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a variable-length needle cover for an injectiondevice.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many users of injection devices have a psychological aversion (so-called“needle phobia”) to injection needles such as those used for injecting afluid product. Patients who actually inject the fluid product themselvesoften have an inhibition threshold that has to be overcome wheninjecting the needle. In order to reduce this inhibition threshold,needle covers have been provided for injection devices.

A variable-length needle covering device for a syringe is disclosed inWO 96/11026. The needle covering device has a porous foam material or aflexible polyethylene film. When the needle covering device isretracted, the cover is either unguided in movement or only guided bythe injection needle itself. If the syringe is placed on the skin at anynon-perpendicular angle to the surface of the skin, the injection needlemay pierce the needle covering device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a needle covering device for an injectiondevice that only requires a relatively small amount of space and may besecurely operated. Operation of the needle covering device is relativelysimple.

In one embodiment, the injection device includes a casing having areservoir or storage container, such as an ampoule, containing the fluidproduct. The injection device also includes a needle for injecting thefluid product from the reservoir. A needle cover surrounds the needlewhen the needle is in an extended position so that the needle isgenerally visually obscured. The needle covering device may protrudebeyond the needle. When in a retracted position, the covering deviceexposes the needle.

In addition, the injection device may include a passage for theinjection needle and a protective cap (if so provided in oneembodiment). A front section may be provided that serves as an injectionpoint. A second section may be provided that, when in the extendedposition, is nearer the casing than the front section is. The sectionscan be moved axially relative to the casing and each other, such thatthe device is variable in length. A distance between a front and a rearend of the device is variable. The front section of the device is guidedin a straight line on the casing. In this way, the sections are guidedin a straight line in the direction of the longitudinal axis of theinjection needle. The sections are thus securely guided in a straightline, without the injection needle being deflected or strained. Theneedle covering device can be guided in a straight line within itself ordirectly on the casing. In each case, it is guided in a straight linewith respect to the casing, i.e., relative to the casing.

In one embodiment, the second section has no contact with the injectionpoint when in the extended position, but in the retracted position thesecond section can be placed on the injection point just like the frontsection. Both sections can be guided directly on the casing. In oneembodiment, the front and second sections are guided on the casing. Inanother embodiment, the second section is guided on the casing, and thefront section is guided on the second section. The front section istherefore indirectly linearly guided on the casing, via the secondsection. In either case, the sections can be guided by a rear section oradapter section which is fixedly connected to the casing and is axiallyrigid (that is, fixed or rigid along an axial direction that is definedby the needle) within itself.

In one embodiment, the front section of the needle covering device maybe axially rigid. The front section is therefore not generally variablein its axial length. This allows the front section to be guided securelyon the casing. A front section that is axially rigid also allows thedevice to be precisely placed on the injection point. The front sectionmay have a flat front area through which the front section is placed onthe injection point.

In one embodiment, the sections of the device may be telescopic. All ofthe sections may then be axially rigid. The individual sections of theneedle covering device can be slid within each other in such a way thatthe needle covering device is variable in its length. In the retractedposition, the individual telescopic sections can be arranged within eachother (and not axially offset), thus achieving a smaller axial length ofthe needle covering device. Thus, a relatively small, efficient,non-buckling needle covering device is provided. The telescopic sectionsmay be formed by sleeves that can be slid from a position in which thesleeves have a minimum axial overlap to a position in which they have amaximum, possibly complete, axial overlap. In the position of maximumoverlap, the needle covering device is in the retracted position. Theindividual telescopic sections or sleeves may be of equal length andcome to rest directly side by side in the retracted position. Atelescopic needle covering device according to this embodiment includesat least two telescopic sections.

In one embodiment, when the cover is in the extended position, the othertelescopic section protrudes out of the casing or adapter section andthe front telescopic section protrudes out of the second telescopicsection. In the retracted position, both telescopic sections are slidback into the casing or adapter section. The adapter section is fixedlyconnected to the casing so as to form a guide for a telescopic sectionadjacent to and movable with respect to the adapter section. The adaptersection can be formed by a telescopic receptacle. The telescopicsections can be slid into the adapter section to move to the retractedposition. Such a needle covering device may be connected to aconventional injection device lacking a needle covering device, withoutsignificant changes having to be made to said injection device. Thus,when the covering device is not slid into the casing of the injectiondevice it may still secure guidance of the needle covering device.

In one embodiment, the telescopic sections may be axially guided in astraight line. The telescopic sections may be sleeve-shaped. The outerand/or inner surface areas of the telescopic sections can form theguiding areas. The telescopic sections may also be non-rotationallyaxially guided. Adjacent telescopic sections may include grooves andprotrusions respectively, that interconnect with each other to preventthe telescopic sections from rotating. Instead of circular sleeves, thetelescopic sections can instead be formed by oval or cornered sleevesthat also prevent rotation.

In one embodiment, the needle covering device may include a concertinawall or be formed by a concertina wall. The front section of theconcertina wall is preferably rigid. The section of the concertina wallthat effects the variable length is arranged between the casing and thefront section of the concertina wall. Through a front restraint on thefront section and a rear restraint on the casing or an adapter sectionfixedly connected to the casing, the concertina wall is also axiallyguided in a straight line when the length is varied.

In one embodiment, the front section of a needle covering device isslide guided in a straight line by a guiding body. The guiding body isfixedly connected to the front section and projects from the frontsection into the casing of the injection device or into a rear sectionof the needle covering device. The guiding body is slide-mounted in thecasing and/or in the rear section. The guiding body may be a rod or anelongated lamina. A number of guiding bodies may also be provided. Sucha guiding body is connected to the front section of the telescopicneedle covering device or of the concertina wall. In a telescopic needlecovering device, the guiding body is formed directly by the telescopicsections. The guiding body of the front telescopic section is then theother telescopic section adjacent to said section.

In one embodiment, an adapter element may be provided for attaching theneedle covering device. The adapter element can be directly attached tothe ampoule or a guiding tube for the ampoule, or is fixedly connectedto the casing. The needle covering device is, for example, connected tothe adapter element via a bayonet lock. It can, however, also be screwedon or plugged on. In the case of a latch connection, an elastic clip ofthe needle covering device is pushed over a bulged ring or otherprotrusion of the adapter element, thus generating a connection.

In one embodiment, the needle covering device may be held by anelasticity force in its extended position. A pressure spring is providedbetween the casing or the adapter section and the front section. Fromthe retracted position the spring automatically presses the frontsection into the extended position, at least partially slaving the othersection.

The fluid product may be automatically injected when the injectionneedle is correctly positioned. This depends on the correct penetrationdepth of the injection needle into the tissue. When using the needlecovering device there is a relationship between the variation in thelength of the needle covering device and the penetration depth of theinjection needle. The needle covering device may be formed so that thedesired penetration depth of the needle is achieved in the retractedposition of the needle covering device. The retracted position of theneedle covering device can be adjusted as desires.

In one embodiment, a contact “C” is provided that causes automaticdelivery of the fluid product. The contact is activated in the retractedposition. In the retracted position, the front section preferablypresses against a switch that lies opposite the placing area on theinjection needle. A contact body may be used that is connected to thefront section and protrudes into the casing, at least in the retractedposition. In this position, the front section provides that the fluidproduct is automatically delivered. A mechanical, electrical or magneticcontact (e.g., a Reed contact or an iron-plastic Reed contact), may beused. The contact body may be an axially extending rod.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned view of an injection device having atelescopic needle covering device;

FIG. 2 a illustrates a perspective view of a telescopic needle coveringdevice in an extended position in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 b illustrates another perspective view of a telescopic needlecovering device in an extended position in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 c illustrates yet a view of a telescopic needle covering devicein a retracted position in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 a illustrates one manner of attaching a needle covering device toan injection device in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 b illustrates another manner of attaching a needle coveringdevice to an injection device in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 c illustrates yet another manner of attaching a needle coveringdevice to an injection device in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a needle covering device having a concertina wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a casing 2 is illustrated. The casing 2 has twocasing halves (only one such half being shown). An ampoule 3 isaccommodated in the casing 2 as a reservoir for a product fluid to beadministered. The ampoule 3 is held in the casing 2 by a guiding tube 11which is fixedly connected to the casing 2. The ampoule 3 comprises anoutlet end and a piston, wherein the piston is pressed towards theoutlet end in order to deliver the fluid product. An injection needle 4has a fluid connection to the outlet end of the ampoule 3. The fluidproduct is injected via the injection needle 4.

The injection needle 4 is at least partially surrounded by a needlecovering device 1, such that the injection needle 4 is substantiallyobscured from view.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the needle covering device 1 istelescopic. The needle covering device 1 is fixedly connected to thecasing 2 via a rear section 7, referred to as an adapter section 7. Anintermediate section 6 and a front section 5 form two telescopicsections of the needle covering device 1. In FIG. 1, the needle coveringdevice 1 is shown in its extended position. In this position, the needlecovering device is biased by an interior spring (see, for example, FIG.4, wherein spring “S” is shown) which presses the front section 5 awayfrom the casing 2.

In order to insert the injection needle 4 into tissue, the needlecovering device is placed against an injection point of the tissue viaits placing area 12. The injection needle is then advanced towards theinjection point and therefore towards the tissue and the injectionneedle penetrates the tissue. As this occurs, the needle covering device1 is retracted. That is, the telescopic section 5 moves into section 6,and both sections 5 and 6 move into section 7 (not necessarily in thatorder). The retracted position is shown in FIG. 2 c. The placing area 12of the front section 5 contacts the tissue.

A contact “C” may be provided to cause automatic delivery of the fluidproduct. The contact “C” is activated in the retracted position. In theretracted position, the front section 5 preferably presses against aswitch that lies opposite the placing area on the injection needle. Acontact body may be used that is connected to the front section 5 andprotrudes into the casing 2, at least in the retracted position. In thisposition, the front section 5 provides that the fluid product isautomatically delivered. The contact “C” may be, for example, amechanical, electrical or magnetic contact (e.g., a Reed contact or aniron-plastic Reed contact). The contact body may be an axially extendingrod (for example, contact body 9 of FIG. 2 c).

FIGS. 2 a-2 c illustrate the telescopic needle covering device 1. Thesections 5, 6 and 7 are sleeve-shaped or hollow cylinders. Fourlongitudinal grooves 13 are uniformly spaced on the outer surface areaof each of the sections 5 and 6. Protrusions 14 are provided thatinterconnect with one of the grooves 13. The protrusions 14 are formedon the inner surface areas of each of the sections 6 and 7. The sections5 and 6 can be linearly slid along the grooves 13. In this way, thesections 5 and 6 are also prevented from rotating. The maximum retractedposition of the needle covering device 1 is defined by stoppers 15.There are also stoppers that define the maximum extended length, whichare not shown. In their retracted position, the sections 5, 6 and 7 sitconcentrically inside each other. The sections 5, 6 and 7 may be made ofplastic.

A guiding body 9, or contact body, includes a flat, elongated member.The guiding body 9 is fixedly connected to the front section 5. When thefront section 5 is retracted, the guiding body 9 is guided in acorresponding receptacle into the casing 2.

The needle covering device 1 is shown in a retracted position in FIG. 2c. The guiding body 9 projects backwards from the rear end of the needlecovering device 1 into the casing 2. In this position, the guiding body9 preferably closes a contact for automatically delivering the fluidproduct. In this way, it also forms a contact body 9. The body 9 canalso be embodied as a contact body 9 only, without a guiding function.

The needle covering device 1 can be fixedly connected to the casing 2,the ampoule 3 or the guiding tube 11. An adapter element 10 may beprovided for connecting the needle covering device 1. Various adapterelements 10 are illustrated in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b.

FIG. 3 a shows an adapter element 10 having a bulged ring 16 on an outersurface area. The adapter element 10 is fixedly connected to the casingor formed on the casing as one piece. As an adapter counter element, theneedle covering device 1 would have one or more elastic clips at itsrear end. The clips are pushed over the bulged ring 16 to connect to thecasing to establish an annular latching connection. Such an adapterelement 10 for such an annular latching connection can also be formed onthe ampoule 3 or the guiding tube 11.

FIG. 3 b shows an adapter element 10 for a bayonet connection, such asthat used in FIGS. 1, 2 a, 2 b and 2 c. Here, the adapter element 10 maybe connected directly to the ampoule 3. FIG. 3 c shows a needle coveringdevice 1 attached to the guiding tube 11 by means of a bayonetconnection.

In a flange-like widening of the bayonet type adapter elements 10, fourrecesses or openings 17 are uniformly distributed over thecircumference. An adapter counter element in the form of connectinghooks 18 (FIG. 2 a) of the needle covering device 1 is inserted into therecesses or openings 17. The whole needle covering device 1 is thenturned in such a way that the connecting hooks 18 in the recesses 17ensure a positive or frictional connection between the needle coveringdevice 1 and the adapter element 10. Such an adapter element 10 for thebayonet connection can be formed on the casing 2, the ampoule 3 or theguiding tube 11. Conversely, the adapter element and adapter counterelement could be switched relative to the casing, the ampoule or theguiding tube and the needle covering device 1.

FIG. 4 shows a needle covering device 1 comprising a concertina wall 8or similar bellows type structure. The concertina wall 8 is formedbetween the front section 5, which is rigid and a connecting section 19.The connecting section 19 can be connected to the injection device inthe manner described above, wherein an adapter counter element is notshown. The guiding body 9 may be extended into the casing 2 (not shown),through the concertina wall 8 to guide the front section 5.Alternatively, the guiding body 9 may simply extend from the frontsection 5, through the concertina wall 8, and to the connecting section19, so long as the needle covering device 1 is smoothly guided in astraight line relative to the casing.

Since the guiding body 9 may be linearly slide-guided in the casing 2,the concertina wall 8 is prevented from jamming when the needle coveringdevice 1 is placed on the tissue at an angle, i.e., when lateral forcesare present. The guiding body 9 can also activate a contact forautomatically delivering the fluid product, in addition to or instead ofserving as a guide. The front section 5 is held in its extended positionby a restoring element, preferably a spiral spring “S. The concertinawall 8 may be made of a flexible plastic while the front section 5 andthe connecting section 19 are made of a rigid plastic.

In the foregoing description various embodiments of the invention havebeen presented for the purpose of illustration and description. They arenot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the preciseform disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible inlight of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and describedto provide the best illustration of the principals of the invention andits practical application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in theart to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All suchmodifications and variations are within the scope of the invention asdetermined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance withthe breadth they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

1. An injection device comprising: a casing for enclosing a reservoirfor a fluid product and an injection needle; and a needle coveringdevice, wherein the needle covering device comprises: a rear section forattaching the needle covering device to the injection device; aretractable front section nondetachably coupled to the rear section andlinearly and axially moveable through a range of motion relative to therear section so as to define an extended position that substantiallysurrounds the injection needle and a retracted position that exposes theinjection needle, wherein a portion of the front section may be abuttedagainst a surface to be injected and the front section is moveablethrough the range of motion generally freely; a concertina wall disposedbetween the front section and the rear section; and a contact foractivating the automatic delivery of the fluid product, the contactcoupled to the retractable front section, wherein the contact extendsthrough the rear section into the casing when the retractable frontsection is in the retracted position to activate the injection device.2. The injection device of claim 1, wherein the retractable frontsection is axially rigid.
 3. The injection device of claim 1, whereinthe concertina wall comprises flexible plastic.
 4. The injection deviceof claim 1, further comprising a guide bar extending into the casingthrough the concertina wall to guide the front section.
 5. The injectiondevice of claim 1, wherein the front section and the rear section areprevented from rotating with respect to one another.
 6. The injectiondevice of claim 1, further comprising a guiding body wherein the frontsection is slide-guided in a straight line on the casing by the guidingbody.
 7. The injection device of claim 1, wherein the retractable frontsection includes a spring, and the retractable front section is urged tothe extended position by force of the spring.
 8. An injection devicecomprising: a casing for enclosing a reservoir for a fluid product andan injection needle; and a needle covering device, wherein the needlecovering device comprises: a rear section for attaching the needlecovering device to the injection device; a retractable front sectionnondetachably coupled to the rear section and linearly and axiallymoveable through a range of motion relative to the rear section so as todefine an extended position that substantially surrounds the injectionneedle and a retracted position that exposes the injection needle,wherein a portion of the front section may be abutted against a surfaceto be injected and the front section is moveable through the range ofmotion generally freely; a concertina wall disposed between the frontsection and the rear section; and a mechanical contact for activatingthe automatic delivery of the fluid product, the mechanical contactcoupled to the retractable front section, wherein the mechanical contactextends through the rear section into the casing when the retractablefront section is in the retracted position to activate the injectiondevice.
 9. The injection device of claim 8, wherein the front section isaxially rigid.
 10. The injection device of claim 8, wherein theconcertina wall comprises flexible plastic.
 11. The injection device ofclaim 8, further comprising a guide bar extending into the casingthrough the concertina wall to guide the front section.
 12. Theinjection device of claim 8, wherein the front section and the rearsection are prevented from rotating with respect to one another.
 13. Theinjection device of claim 8, further comprising a guiding body whereinthe front section is slide-guided in a straight line on the casing bythe guiding body.
 14. The injection device of claim 8, wherein theretractable front section includes a spring, and the retractable frontsection is urged to the extended position by force of the spring.
 15. Aninjection device, comprising: a casing for enclosing a reservoir for afluid product and an injection needle; and a needle covering device,wherein the needle covering device comprises: a rear section forattaching the needle covering device to the injection device; aretractable front section nondetachably coupled to the rear section andlinearly and axially moveable through a range of motion relative to therear section so as to define an extended position that substantiallysurrounds the injection needle and a retracted position that exposes theinjection needle, wherein a portion of the front section may be abuttedagainst a surface to be injected and the front section is moveablethrough the range of motion generally freely; a concertina wall disposedbetween the front section and the rear section; and an electricalcontact for activating the automatic delivery of the fluid product, theelectrical contact coupled to the retractable front section, wherein theelectrical contact extends through the rear section into the casing whenthe retractable front section is in the retracted position to activatethe injection device.
 16. The injection device of claim 15, wherein thefront section is axially rigid.
 17. The injection device of claim 15,wherein the concertina wall comprises flexible plastic.
 18. Theinjection device of claim 15, further comprising a guide bar extendinginto the casing through the concertina wall to guide the front section.19. The injection device of claim 15, wherein the front section and therear section are prevented from rotating with respect to one another.20. The injection device of claim 15, further comprising a guiding bodywherein the front section is slide-guided in a straight line on thecasing by the guiding body.
 21. The injection device of claim 15,wherein the retractable front section includes a spring, and theretractable front section is urged to the extended position by force ofthe spring.
 22. The injection device of claim 15, wherein the electricalcontact is a Reed contact.
 23. The injection device of claim 15, whereinthe Reed contact is an iron-plastic Reed contact.
 24. An injectiondevice, comprising: a casing for enclosing a reservoir for a fluidproduct and an injection needle; and a needle covering device, whereinthe needle covering device comprises: a rear section for attaching theneedle covering device to the injection device; a retractable frontsection nondetachably coupled to the rear section and linearly andaxially moveable through a range of motion relative to the rear sectionso as to define an extended position that substantially surrounds theinjection needle and a retracted position that exposes the injectionneedle, wherein a portion of the front section may be abutted against asurface to be injected and the front section is moveable through therange of motion generally freely; a concertina wall disposed between thefront section and the rear section; and a magnetic contact foractivating the automatic delivery of the fluid product, the magneticcontact coupled to the retractable front section, wherein the magneticcontact extends through the rear section into the casing when theretractable front section is in the retracted position to activate theinjection device.
 25. The injection device of claim 24, wherein thefront section is axially rigid.
 26. The injection device of claim 24,wherein the concertina wall comprises flexible plastic.
 27. Theinjection device of claim 24, further comprising a guide bar extendinginto the casing through the concertina wall to guide the front section.28. The injection device of claim 24, wherein the front section and therear section are prevented from rotating with respect to one another.29. The injection device of claim 24, further comprising a guiding bodywherein the front section is slide-guided in a straight line on thecasing by the guiding body.
 30. The injection device of claim 24,wherein the retractable front section includes a spring, and theretractable front section is urged to the extended position by force ofthe spring.
 31. An injection device comprising: a casing for enclosing areservoir for a fluid product and an injection needle; and a needlecovering device, wherein the needle covering device comprises: (a) arear section for attaching the needle covering device to the injectiondevice; (b) a retractable front section nondetachably coupled to therear section and linearly and axially moveable through a range of motionrelative to the rear section so as to define an extended position thatsubstantially surrounds the injection needle; (c) a retracted positionthat exposes the injection needle, wherein a portion of the frontsection may be abutted against a surface to be injected and the frontsection is moveable through the range of motion generally freely, andwherein the front section in the retracted position presses against aswitch that lies opposite a placing area on the injection needle; (d) abellows section disposed between the front section and the rear section;and (e) a contact for activating the automatic delivery of the fluidproduct, the contact connected to the retractable front section, whereinthe contact extends through the rear section into the casing when theretractable front section is in the retracted position to activate theinjection device.
 32. The injection device of claim 31, wherein thecontact is mechanical.
 33. The injection device of claim 31, wherein thecontact is electrical.
 34. The injection device of claim 31, wherein thecontact is magnetic.